A little thing called abundance

I received an early (and incredibly generous) Chanukah gift: an Apple Watch. It’s wonderful. It’s beautiful, has great features, and is helping me to move. I’m kind of amazed at how the simple feature it has - three rings, each measuring a different aspect of health, that you try to fill in each day - is helping to kick me in the pants. It’s become a real goal - get those rings filled!

I was aware that I’d have to get in some real movement if I was going to get them all filled, as I wasn’t going to the gym today. So, I took a walk for about 30 minutes. It was a beautiful day here in Seattle. Not a cloud in the sky. Simply stunning. But I’m not writing to tell you about my rings. I’m writing to tell you about my gratitude.

The walk felt free. It felt nice to be in a park I enjoy spending time in. It was great to see“the mountain” while outside (this, friends, is what we in Seattle call Mt. Rainier). It’s these things that make me realize just how much I have. How lucky I am. The space to walk. The luxury of living in a place that has prioritized public space (and beautiful public space at that!). The health to move and enjoy the outdoors. (Not to mention the generosity of a mother who wants me to have a tool that helps me be even healthier…you know, the watch).

There’s an abundance of riches in my life. This doesn’t even count my wife, who is a champion for me and easily the best friend a person could ask for. Nor my pooch, who, even though he regularly wakes me at 2:30 in the morning, shares a kind of love that can only come from a relationship with one’s dog. Nor the rest of my family and friends. It goes on and on, really. It’s all a nice reminder: life truly is a gift.